On Monday, the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) announced a new look for the region’s public transport during an event held at Barker’s Pool.
The announcement is the latest step in a £1.5bn investment bringing back routes, timetables and fares into public control instead of the big decisions being made by private companies.
A new orange, grey and asphalt colour scheme, which pays homage to the region’s industries, grit and resilience, will appear on buses and trams, replacing the existing Travel South Yorkshire brand. Changes to stops, shelters and interchanges to be noticeable in the ‘coming months’.
South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard said that this is a ‘once in a generation change’.
“A proper public transport network gives people real freedom and choice about how they travel and move, connects people to opportunity and opens up new horizons.”
Coppard pledged to establish bus franchising similar to Manchester’s ‘Bee Network’ during his 2022 election campaign, and this week’s news feels like a long-awaited step in the right direction, following the success on the opposite side of the Peak District.
Existing bus companies such as First Bus and Stagecoach will still be responsible for the maintenance and running of the city’s buses as franchises, with around 180 electric buses to replace the ageing vehicles in their fleets.
The franchising will begin in Doncaster and Sheffield in 2027, with a full expansion to Barnsley and Rotherham expected by 2029.
Integrated tram and bus ticketing will be available even during the transition phase, minimising confusion for passengers when travelling between South Yorkshire’s four boroughs. Free travel for all under 18s will be region-wide by Summer 2027.
On the subject of trams, a fleet replacement is expected in the early 2030s, while a further £7.5m has been provided by the government to develop plans for extensions to existing lines.
There have been calls for services to reach Chesterfield, Penistone and as far as Doncaster-Sheffield Airport where flights will resume in 2028.